Raising the main in heavy air

[mastreb]

I'd like some advice on raising the main in high winds (for me, that's 15+ knots). Went out yesterday and for the life of me I could not get the main all the way up because I couldn't keep the boat pointed at the wind, and frankly it just didn't seem like there was any point at which it was "between" the spreaders--no matter what we did it was either slammed to the port shrouds or to the starboard, and it would just switch instantly as we crossed the wind.

Granted, I did have my Brother-in-law on the helm, but the boat's high wind-age and 4-foot swells were moving the boat all over the place anyway, and I doubt that I could have kept the boat pointed. This is one reason why I really prefer tillers to wheels, but that's a different conversation.

The problem was the aft-swept spreaders. While raising, the head would go leeward so far that it would catch on everything--spreaders, stays, bolts, seemed like everything on the mast. I never had this problem on my previous boat because there wasn't anything aft of the mast to really get caught up on.

I got the main to the 2nd reef and gave up and reefed it there because I couldn't get it any further. I'd cut a finger on god knows what, didn't notice it, and now I've got blood all over my main to boot. Of course that didn't enhance my mood either.

With the 2nd reefed main and the mostly furled Genny we did get some sailing in but it was pretty gentle and I felt like I was wasting the wind and a chance to really get moving. We were only heeled about ten degrees.

What's the solution? The only thing I've come up with is some sort of fixed plastic "car" that would ride above the head in the mast track and keep it straight to the mast as it goes up. I've replaced my mast foot (bent) and put on the roller bearings, so the mast turns really nicely with the mast head, so I figure it should not be far from parallel with the mast angle anyway, right?

[pmmcderm]

I'm still fairly new to my , but being in Hawaii, I'm always contending with wind > 15 kts. I installed the main-lines-aft mod and now I just point into wind (with motor), maintain bare steerage, and bring up the main quickly, using the winch for the last foot or so. It's cheating, maybe, but I figure that's the point of a power-sailor. No sweat. Before that, I couldn't raise the sail by myself in any kind of swell. With a friend, we did the same thing: used the motor to hold us into the wind. The other person would go up on deck and either stand forward of the mast hanging on (my friend), or sit on the deck with legs wrapped around the bottom of the mast (me). In 15 kts or higher, heaving-to doesn't work real well, especially in swells. The sail is always getting tangled in the shrouds. I also installed a down-haul for the same reason. Winds can pick up quickly sometimes (>25 kts), and when I want to call it a day, it's nice to be able to bring the main down fast.

[dlandersson]

I have lazy jacks - they keep the main controlled until I'm ready to let it out.

I'd like some advice on raising the main in high winds (for me, that's 15+ knots). Went out yesterday and for the life of me I could not get the main all the way up because I couldn't keep the boat pointed at the wind, and frankly it just didn't seem like there was any point at which it was "between" the spreaders--no matter what we did it was either slammed to the port shrouds or to the starboard, and it would just switch instantly as we crossed the wind.

Granted, I did have my Brother-in-law on the helm, but the boat's high wind-age and 4-foot swells were moving the boat all over the place anyway, and I doubt that I could have kept the boat pointed. This is one reason why I really prefer tillers to wheels, but that's a different conversation.

The problem was the aft-swept spreaders. While raising, the head would go leeward so far that it would catch on everything--spreaders, stays, bolts, seemed like everything on the mast. I never had this problem on my previous boat because there wasn't anything aft of the mast to really get caught up on.

I got the main to the 2nd reef and gave up and reefed it there because I couldn't get it any further. I'd cut a finger on god knows what, didn't notice it, and now I've got blood all over my main to boot. Of course that didn't enhance my mood either.

With the 2nd reefed main and the mostly furled Genny we did get some sailing in but it was pretty gentle and I felt like I was wasting the wind and a chance to really get moving. We were only heeled about ten degrees.

What's the solution? The only thing I've come up with is some sort of fixed plastic "car" that would ride above the head in the mast track and keep it straight to the mast as it goes up. I've replaced my mast foot (bent) and put on the roller bearings, so the mast turns really nicely with the mast head, so I figure it should not be far from parallel with the mast angle anyway, right?

[bscott]

Cold salt water for blood removal--now the hard part, driving the boat into the wind. My wife cannot keep the boat straight on against the wind until we tried speeding up to 6-8 knts which made it alot easier to hoist the main--also spray silicon into and on the slugs before leaving the dock. When I single hand I totally blanket the main with my jib on a hove to. If one tack doesn't work, I try the opposite and manhandle the main with my winch. 2nd reef at 15 knt wind speed in 4' chop is still a fun day

Bob

[Phil M]

In heavy winds, a double-reefed main would be the best option. I have reefed my main in heavy winds without hoving to by using the iron Genny, but the rpms need to increase to keep the boat steady.
I guess Ishould practice hoving to, just like I should practice the man overboard procedures.

[Wind Chime]

IMHO, if the wind is too strong to fully hoist the main ... chances are you should be reefed anyway.

Part of what we teach our new club members at our bi-annual Macgregor Yacht Club "MacFoulie" sailing sessions, is if you are going out in inclement or heavier wind conditions:
- you should reef your main before you leave the dock. By pre-reefing at the dock, if the weather is as heavy as expected, you do not present too much sail in the strong winds and then struggle to reef.
- if conditions are lighter than expected, you can easily shake out the reef.

Darry

[Phil M]

IMHO, if the wind is too strong to fully hoist the main ... chances are you should be reefed anyway.

Part of what we teach our new club members at our bi-annual Macgregor Yacht Club "MacFoulie" sailing sessions, is if you are going out in inclement or heavier wind conditions:
- you should reef your main before you leave the dock. By pre-reefing at the dock, if the weather is as heavy as expected, you do not present too much sail in the strong winds and then struggle to reef.
- if conditions are lighter than expected, you can easily shake out the reef.

Darry

Agreed, but the problem is recognizing that conditions are different way out there on the water compared to a cozy anchorage. You can't fix stupid.

[Wind Chime]

Ya Phil, it always surprises me how some people just get on their boat and go without even listening to at the very least a VHF weather report report for the local area. Although here on the Canadian West Coast I guess we have the advantage of several local ocean reporting stations, lighthouses, floating bouys for wave hieght, etc.

[Bransher]

mastreb wrote:

I'd cut a finger on god knows what, didn't notice it, and now I've got blood all over my main to boot.

I think blood on your sails adds character to any boat.

[mastreb]

Thanks for all the advice. Understanding lazy jacks is probably the best answer, I'm working on de-complicating my trailer rigging so I'm hoping to do without lazy jacks for as long as possible.

I had just removed my main line aft mod and was regretting it--it'll be going back. It's nothing fancy, just a harken 140 bolted to the gin pole screw, which actually works very well. I took it off because I replaced the mast foot and hadn't gotten around to putting it back on.

A sailor at the public docks told me to use Harken Track Spray, which is apparently graphite suspended in ethanol, sprayed long the luff boltrope on both sides. The ethanol evaporates and leaves the graphite all along the boltrope which apparently takes all the resistance out of raising and lowering.

Keeping a heading at 7 knots--I should have thought of that. It's impossible to keep any kind of heading below 3 knots and that's where we were. That alone will probably solve the problem.

Thanks all.

Matt

[beene]

Just make sure nothing is holding it back.
Like the vang or main sheets.

The boom has to be completely free while raising the main or she wont go all the way up.

G

[Wisey]

Raising your mainsail in 15kt + winds is difficult, but doable even if you add a bit of swell. First there must be someone that has the ability to keep her pointing into the wind doing a few knots. The main problem when raising the sail when windy is maintaining enough downhaul on the halyard to obtain enough tension. A truckers hitch is difficult to apply one handed so I have been using a Prusik or Klemheist knot with carrabina attached to halyard to obtain enough downhaul on sail. Knots can be found on "knots by grog.com". The Macs just love15 knots + and so do some who sail them.

[Tomfoolery]

I use SailKote McLube, as do many others. Makes a big difference, and I only use it once a year at the beginning of the season. I have slides, by the way.

http://www.mclubemarine.com/sailkote/ No connection - just a satisfied user.

[dlandersson]

Ditto - like a biker jacket.

mastreb wrote:

I'd cut a finger on god knows what, didn't notice it, and now I've got blood all over my main to boot.

I think blood on your sails adds character to any boat.

[ronacarme]

Bob Scott...I also single hand alot, and don't have a reliable way to hold the bow close to the wind for easy raising of the main.
As to your method, what are your CB, jib sheet, wheel, etc., positions and angle of bow to the wind, when hove to for main raising?
Ron